Linking Words

Linking words help you connect ideas and sentences, so that people can follow your thoughts. Find below a list of the most common linking words with examples on their use.

Giving examples

For example For instance Namely

The most common way of giving examples is by using for example or for instance.

Namely refers to something by name.

“There are two problems: namely, the expense and the time.”

Adding information

And In addition As well as Also Too Furthermore Moreover Apart from Besides On top of that Anyway Indeed not only…but also

Ideas are often linked by and. In a list, you put a comma between each item, but not before and.

“We discussed training, education and the budget.”

Also is used to add an extra idea or emphasis. “We also spoke about marketing.”

You can use also with not only to give emphasis.

“We are concerned not only by the costs, but also by the competition.”

We don’t usually start a sentence with also. If you want to start a sentence with a phrase that means also, you can use In addition, or In addition to this…

As well as can be used at the beginning or the middle of a sentence.

“As well as the costs, we are concerned by the competition.”

“We are interested in costs as well as the competition.”

Too goes either at the end of the sentence, or after the subject and means as well.

“They were concerned too.”

“I, too, was concerned.”

Apart from and besides are often used to mean as well as, or in addition to.

“Apart from Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer.”

“Besides Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer.”

Moreover and furthermore add extra information to the point you are making.

“Marketing plans give us an idea of the potential market. Moreover, they tell us about the competition.”

He left early- and on top of that, he didn’t pay for his share of the meal.

Timing

When As soon as The moment On+ing from… After Before Up to that time Throughout

When/As soon as/ The moment they arrived, the meeting began.

On hearing the news, we immediately phoned to congratulate them.

From early childhood/an early age, she showed great aptitude for music.

Throughout his adult life, he has dedicated himself to helping others.

Up to that time, she had never even been abroad.

Sequencing idea

The former, … the latter Firstly, secondly, finally The first point is Lastly The following Last but not least

The former and the latter are useful when you want to refer to one of two points.
“Marketing and finance are both covered in the course. The former is studied in the first term and the latter is studied in the final term.”

It’s rare to use “fourthly”, or “fifthly”. Instead, try the first point, the second point, the third point and so on.

The following is a good way of starting a list.

“The following people have been chosen to go on the training course: N Peters, C Jones and A Owen.”

Giving a reason

Due to / due to the fact that Owing to / owing to the fact that Because because of to the extent that Seeing that Because of Since As

Due to, because of and owing to must be followed by a noun.

“Due to the rise in oil prices, the inflation rate rose by 1.25%.”

“Owing to the demand, we are unable to supply all items within 2 weeks.”

If you want to follow these words with a clause (a subject, verb and object), you must follow the words with the fact that.

“Due to the fact that oil prices have risen, the inflation rate has gone up by 1%25.”

“Owing to the fact that the workers have gone on strike, the company has been unable to fulfil all its orders.”

Because can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. For example, “Because it was raining, the match was postponed.”

“We believe in incentive schemes, because we want our employees to be more productive.”

Since and as mean because.

“Since the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff.”

“As the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff.”

Giving a result

Therefore So Consequently This means that As a result thereby thus in such a way as a consequence as a result accordingly hence

Therefore, thus, as a consequence, accordingly, so, consequently and as a result are all used in a similar way.

“The company are expanding. Therefore / So / Consequently / As a result, they are taking on extra staff.”

So is more informal.

He became a citizen in 1999, thereby gaining the right to vote.

Many areas have been modernised in such a way as to make the city more attractive to tourists.

This will cause us financial loss hence my reservations

Contrasting ideas

But However Although / even though Despite / despite the fact that In spite of / in spite of the fact that Nevertheless Nonetheless While Whereas Unlike In theory… in practice… in contrast conversely on the contrary instead

But is more informal than however. It is not normally used at the beginning of a sentence.

“He works hard, but he doesn’t earn much.”
“He works hard. However, he doesn’t earn much.”

Although, despite and in spite of introduce an idea of contrast. With these words, you must have two halves of a sentence.

“Although it was cold, she went out in shorts.”
“In spite of the cold, she went out in shorts.”

Despite and in spite of are used in the same way as due to and owing to. They must be followed by a noun. If you want to follow them with a noun and a verb, you must use the fact that.

“Despite the fact that the company was doing badly, they took on extra employees.”

Nevertheless and nonetheless mean in spite of that or anyway.

“The sea was cold, but he went swimming nevertheless.” (In spite of the fact that it was cold.)
“The company is doing well. Nonetheless, they aren’t going to expand this year.”

While, whereas and unlike are used to show how two things are different from each other.